Current through August 30, 2024
(a) A child care facility must have indoor
and outdoor space to accommodate the physical and developmental needs of
children in care.
(b) A child care
center and a child care group home shall provide at least
(1) 35 square feet of usable indoor space per
child, exclusive of hallways, bathrooms, storage areas, office space, furnace
and laundry rooms, crib space, and any area children are prevented from using;
and
(2) 75 square feet of outdoor
recreation space per child for the maximum number of children playing outside
at any one time, except as provided in (c)(2) of this section.
(c) In meeting the space
requirements of (b) of this section, if
(1) a
child care center is attached to or located in a residence, the child care
facility shall designate space that is exclusive of family living areas;
and
(2) outdoor recreation space is
not available at a child care center or a child care group home, the facility
may use a park or other outdoor location that is easily accessible if a plan
for transportation to and from and for use of this alternative outdoor location
is approved by the department.
(d) A child care facility shall ensure that
there is a specific place for each child to keep the child's own clothing and
personal possessions.
(e) Subject
to (f) of this section, a child care center must have storage and work space
areas convenient to the area used for child care to meet the following needs:
(1) record storage and
administration;
(2) food
preparation and service, if applicable;
(3) storage of program materials and
resources for staff and parents, if applicable;
(4) storage of repair and maintenance
supplies;
(5) rest area and meeting
space for staff.
(f) The
provisions of (e) of this section do not require that rooms or areas be
assigned exclusively to a single function.
(g) A child care facility shall maintain a
well-organized environment, arranged so that
(1) children have opportunities to use space,
materials, and equipment to optimize learning;
(2) children may use what they can reach most
of the time;
(3) children have
reasonable freedom of action without recurrent accidents and
collisions;
(4) children have a
comfortable place for quiet time;
(5) infants may explore safely and freely, to
crawl, stand, and learn to walk; and
(6) school-age children have a quiet place to
do homework, if needed.
Authority:AS
44.29.020
AS 47.32.010
AS
47.32.030
